This programme may suit those who wish to pursue an interesting and worthwhile career in the caring services. Applicants should have

An interest in acquiring the skills necessary to work with and care for people with a wide variety of intellectual disability problems

A capacity to analyse problems and apply solutions based on best practice.

Good communication skills.

An interest in working with people who have intellectual disability problems and are in need of education, care, support and rehabilitation.

Minimum Academic Entry Requirements

The Nurses Rules, 2010 6.1 provide that:Before admission to a programme leading to Registration in the Register of Nurses the applicant must have obtained in the Leaving Certificate Examination a minimum grade of C3 in two higher level papers and a minimum of grade D3 in four ordinary or higher level papers in the following subjects:

Or Have equivalent educational qualifications to those outlined above. The minimum entry requirements may be accumulated from more than one sitting of the Leaving Certificate or an equivalent examination. All applicants who meet the minimum requirements or who are taking the correct combination of subjects in the Leaving Certificate, or an equivalent examination are eligible to apply and will be ranked and selected on points

FETAC Level 5

FETAC has launched a new format of awards called the Common Awards System (CAS). From September 2013 applicants may be presenting with these new common awards.Applicants who wish to be considered on the basis of FETAC Level 5 awards must present either of the following FETAC awards:

Nursing Studies: 5M4349 or

Health Care Support: 5M4339 or

Community Care: 5M2786

To be eligible for consideration, those presenting either of the above awards must also have included in their award any one of the following mathematics modules, C20139, C20175, C20174, and must have achieved at least 5 distinctions, including distinctions in at least 3 of the following four modules:

Anatomy and Physiology 5NO749 or

Biology 5N2746 or

Human Growth and Development 5N1279 or

Nursing Theory and Practice 5N4325

A quota of 2 places is reserved for those presenting FETAC results. For further information on FETAC applications please see FETAC.

Mature Applicants

A quota of four places is allocated specifically for mature applicants on this programme. Mature Applicants (aged 23 or over on January 1st in the year of application) who do not meet the minimum educational requirements should apply via the CAO, using the mature code, before February 1st. Having applied through CAO, applicants for mature code entry must also register and apply through the PAS website. This is required as PAS undertakes the written assessment on behalf of Nursing and Midwifery Board Ireland. For further information see here.

Garda Vetting

Applicants who join this course will have to be vetted by the Gardaí. If the Gardaí raise an issue it will have to be addressed satisfactorily. If it is not, students will not be able to go on placement or fulfil the course requirements, in which case students will be asked to leave the course. Please note that all courses requiring Garda vetting will only have places for non-EU candidates if there are not enough qualified EU candidates available to fill the course.

Health Assessment

Applicants wishing to pursue one of the nursing degree programmes are subject to an Occupational Health Assessment. Applicants must be deemed fit to practice in order to continue on the programme.

What will I have to study?

Year/Semester

Proposed Modules, subject to approval

Mandatory/Elective

No of credits

1/1

Biological & Related Sciences 1

Mandatory

5

Introduction to Social And Behavioural Sciences

Mandatory

5

Professional Nursing Studies 1

Mandatory

5

Nursing: Theory and Practice 1

Mandatory

10

1/2

Biological & Related Sciences 2

Mandatory

5

Lifespan Psychology& Societal Influences

Mandatory

5

Professional Nursing Studies 2

Mandatory

5

Nursing Theory and Practice 2

Mandatory

10

Intellectual Disability Nursing Practice 1

Mandatory

10

2/3

Assessment, Skills Development and Behaviours that Challenge

Mandatory

5

Professional Nursing Studies 3

Mandatory

5

Promoting Health & Wellbeing

Mandatory

5

Genetics and Health Needs in Intellectual Disability

Mandatory

15

2/4

Health Needs and Nursing Interventions in Intellectual Disability 1

Mandatory

5

Evidence Based Practice

Mandatory

5

Social Sciences Perspectives on Health Care Delivery

Mandatory

5

Complex Needs and Intellectual Disability

Mandatory

10

Intellectual Disability Nursing Practice 2

Mandatory

5

3/5

Intellectual Disability Nursing Practice 3

Mandatory

30

3/6

The Older Person with Intellectual Disability

Mandatory

10

Individual & Collective Wellbeing

Mandatory

5

Leadership & Management in Nursing

Mandatory

5

Health Needs and Nursing Interventions in Intellectual Disability 2

Mandatory

10

Research in Practice

Mandatory

5

4/7

Contemporary Trends in Intellectual Disability Nursing

Mandatory

10

Health Needs and Nursing Interventions in Intellectual Disability 3

Mandatory

10

Intellectual Disability Nursing Practice 4

Mandatory

5

4/8

Intellectual Disability Nursing: Internship : 36 Weeks

Mandatory

30

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this programme the student will be able to:

Assist individuals, families and groups achieve optimum health, independence, recovery or a peaceful death in a professional caring manner.

Demonstrate a knowledge base and a level of competence in clinical practice skills essential for safe practice, which are grounded in recent evidence based nursing research, where available.

Identify and meet the nursing care needs of the individual, family, community in all health care settings

Demonstrate the development of skills of analysis, critical thinking, problem-solving and reflective practice.

Act as an effective member of a health care team and participate in the multi-disciplinary team approach to the care of patients/clients.

Demonstrate effective, efficient and appropriate verbal, written and non-verbal communication.

Demonstrate a working knowledge of information literacy and ICT skills sufficient to practice in a modern health care environment.

Develop the skills necessary to be discerning consumers of evidence able to effectively use such evidence for practical purposes in both education and practice.

Are there follow-up Programmes Available?

On successful completion of this programme learners may transfer to programmes at LYIT leading to the award of Higher Diploma in any of the following clinical nursing specialties:

Intellectual Disability Nursing – Challenging Behaviour

Intellectual Disability Nursing - Care of the Older Person

Please note that the above programmes are only offered subject to Health Service Executive need. Thus all programmes may not be available every year. For further details contact the Department of Nursing and Health Studies.

Progression to programmes leading to the award Post-graduate Diploma or Masters Degree, or in some case, to programmes leading to the award of a Doctoral Degree is possible.